Page 15 of Making a Cowgirl

“Sure. You need to have some kind of connection with her.”

For the first time that day, a ghost of a smile touched her face. “Okay.”

“Okay.” He gave her a short nod. “I’m not going to go any easier on you, though.”

“No one asked you to.”

That wasn’t quite true. Brielle had basically done as much. She wanted him to teach Sarah like he’d taught her. Well, when he’d taught Brielle, he’d already developed feelings for her. It was easier to have patience and talk her through things. She wasn’t nearly as combative as Sarah. Luckily, there was no way he would make that mistake twice.

He cleared his throat, still fingering the keys in his hand. “Can I ask you something?”

She visibly stiffened. “What?” Her voice was almost timid.

Dax nodded toward the sheriff’s station. “Is the sheriff treating you with respect? He’s not doing anything inappropriate, is he?”

Her eyes widened and her face turned scarlet. “Of course not! He’s always been—he’s my uncle, for heaven’s sake.” Her voice softened. “He’s taking care of me.”

“Then why are you always so upset when you come out after your meeting?”

She broke eye contact and shifted in her seat. “There’s something else going on.”

He waited for her to expound on her statement. Whatever it was, it had to be pretty bad to bring her to tears each time he’d picked her up. “Are you going to tell me?”

Sarah shook her head.

“Can I ask why?”

She scowled at her hands in her lap. “It’s like I said, Dax. We’re not friends. I don’t need to tell you my life story. Just drop it, okay?”

His chest tightened and a weight settled on his shoulders that almost made it hard to breathe. Here he was trying to extend an olive branch, and she was pushing him back. At least he couldn’t tell Brielle that he hadn’t tried. She couldn’t get mad at him anymore.

Dax put his keys into the ignition and shifted his truck into drive. Beside him, Sarah’s stomach gurgled. She wrapped her arm around her middle and turned away from him. He let out a sigh. “Did you get anything to eat this morning?”

She didn’t respond.

“Sarah.”

“No.”

“Why not?”

She shrugged. “I haven’t been very hungry lately.”

He shook his head. “Didn’t they tell you that working on a ranch means you have to take care of yourself?” Dax made a sharp, sudden turn, causing her to let out a yelp and hold onto the armrest on the door.

“Dax! What on earth are you doing?”

“I’m getting you lunch.”

She gaped at him. “I’mnothungry. You can save your money.”

“It’s not negotiable. Burger or chicken?”

“I’m not eating.”

He shook his head. “I’m not against force-feeding you.”

She gasped, and the corners of his mouth twitched as he turned his head toward her. Her body relaxed slightly, and she almost smiled back.

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